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Playbook

Metals and Non-Metals

17 q · 0% HARD. Reactivity series (K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au), reactions with water/acids, corrosion + galvanisation, alloy compositions, and ore-extraction methods. Zero HARD across the chapter — drill it for guaranteed marks.

questions in the bank
17
tagged HARD
0%
subtopic(s)
4
worked examples
2

When you’ll see it

A reactivity-series ordering, a metal + water/acid reaction product, a corrosion + prevention method (galvanisation/painting/electroplating), an alloy composition match, or an ore-extraction method (smelting/electrolysis/reduction).

How this chapter is tested

17 q in 10 years · ZERO HARD. Pure recall, lowest-difficulty Rule-or-Recall chapter in the bank. The Reactivity Series (6 q) is the master tool: K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au. Metals above H react with dilute acid → release H₂. Metals above Mg react with cold water; below Mg react with steam (Fe with steam); below Cu don't react with water.

Corrosion (5 q) = oxidation of metal by atmospheric O₂ + moisture. Iron rust = Fe₂O₃·xH₂O (reddish-brown, FLAKES — exposes fresh metal). Aluminium oxide Al₂O₃ STICKS (passive layer — protects), zinc oxide STICKS too. Galvanisation = coating Fe with Zn (Zn corrodes preferentially as sacrificial anode). Painting + greasing + electroplating + alloying (stainless steel) all prevent direct O₂ contact.

Extraction (2 q) depends on reactivity. Top of series (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al) — electrolysis of molten salt (too reactive to displace from oxide). Middle (Zn, Fe, Sn, Pb) — reduce oxide with carbon (smelting). Bottom (Cu, Ag, Au) — occur free in nature OR roast sulphide. Alloy composition (4 q) overlaps with the Industrial playbook; same compositions tested.

The sub-skills

The rules and habits that decide whether you get a question right.

  • Reactivity series recall

    K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au (decreasing reactivity). Mnemonic: 'Please Send Cats Monkeys And Zebras In Cute Sweet Glittering Animal Galleries.' Higher metal displaces lower from its salt solution (Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu).

  • Metal + water/acid reaction prediction

    K, Na: violent with cold water → H₂ + alkali (NaOH). Ca, Mg: slower with cold water. Al, Zn, Fe: react with steam, not cold water. Below H (Cu, Ag, Au): don't react with dilute acid. Above H: react with dilute HCl/H₂SO₄ → salt + H₂.

  • Corrosion-prevention methods

    Barrier (painting, oiling, greasing, plastic coating) — keep O₂/moisture out. Sacrificial anode (galvanisation = Zn coating on Fe; magnesium blocks on ship hulls) — corrode in place of Fe. Alloying (stainless steel = Fe + Cr; bronze = Cu + Sn) — change electrochemistry. Electroplating (Cr, Ni layer) — combine barrier + ornamentation.

  • Ore-extraction strategy

    Reactivity decides method. Most reactive (K/Na/Ca/Mg/Al): ELECTROLYSIS of molten chloride/oxide. Medium reactivity (Zn/Fe/Sn/Pb): REDUCTION with C, CO, or Al (thermite). Least reactive (Cu/Ag/Au): often found NATIVE, or roast the sulphide.

2 worked examples from the bank

Real past-year questions illustrating the playbook. Click to reveal options + solution.

Example 1Metals and Non-MetalsMODERATE
Which one of the following metals can be extracted using carbon as reducing agent?

[Q113 · Sep · 2023]

Example 2Metals and Non-MetalsMODERATE
Which one of the following alloys contains a non-metal as one of its constituent?

[Q57 · Sep · 2023]

Traps to expect

Distractor shapes specific to this chapter. The page-wide Traps section covers the bank-level patterns.

  • Aluminium 'doesn't corrode'

    Aluminium DOES corrode (oxidises in air) — but the Al₂O₃ layer that forms is sticky and impermeable, so it STOPS further corrosion. The metal underneath is highly reactive. Wrong option claims Al doesn't react with O₂.

  • Galvanisation = tin coating

    Galvanisation = ZINC coating (not tin). Tinning = tin coating (used for food cans). Wrong option swaps the two. Zn is sacrificial anode; tin is just a barrier coating.

  • Iron extracted by electrolysis

    Iron is extracted by REDUCTION with C/CO in a blast furnace (Fe₂O₃ + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂), NOT by electrolysis. Electrolysis is for top-of-series metals (Al via Hall-Héroult). Wrong option treats all metals identically.

Drill every metals and non-metals question

17 questions from the bank, scoped to 4 bundled subtopics.

Drill the 17 questions

Related playbooks

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